Wardrobe grip or tray.



G. H. WHEARY.

WARDROBE GRIP 0R TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED 001227. 1911.

Paterted May 7, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED A STAT `ES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE H. WHEARY, or RACINE, WISCONSIN, AssIGNOR To THE HARTMANN TRUNK COMPANY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

p WARDROBE GRIP OR TRAVY.

Specification Of Letters Patent.

'Application led October 27, 1911. Serial No. 657,166.

T o all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. YVHEARY,

a citizen of the United States, and resident of Racine, inthe county of- Racine and t-State of Tisconsiln have invented new and useful Improvements in lVardrobe Grips or Trays, of which the following is a. description, referente being had to the accompanying drawings, which are a. part of this speciv fication.

My invention has relation to improvements in Wardrobe grips or trays.

The Vobject of the invention is to provide a construction of such character that the grip or trayL can be readily placed in or removed from a trunk body, and when removed can be placed vertically on end, and lirmly supported in such vertical position for use as a wardrobe, the interior of the grip or tray being preferably provided with a complete hanger outfit. The grip arrangement is also such that the said grip can either, be carried in a trunk for ready removal therefrom, or can be carried separately in traveling, the same as an ordinary dress suit case, and conveniently placed beneath the seat of a railway train, or beneath the berth of a steamer, and, upon the place of destination being reached, can be set up in a room for use as a Wardrobe.

lVith the above primary, and other incidental objects in View, the invention consists of the devices and parts, or the equivalents thereof, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of the grip set up and supported vertically for use as a wardrobe; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical vsection of a fragment of the grip or tray, showing in full lines the supporting mechanism in operative supporting position, and in dotted lines in non-supporting position; and Fig. 4

is a front view of the tray showing the supporting mechanism adjusted to its non-supporting position.

The grip formof the device, indicated by numeral 13, is of the ordina shape of a full ldress suit case, being o rectangular form, and rovided with a hinged lid or cover 14. en it is made for insertion into a trunk, the grip is somewhat larger interior and the top'portion thereof with. a. complete hanger outfit 15.

.Mounted pivotally von tru`nnions or ivot pms 16-16 extending laterally an vin- `vardly from the inner sides ofv the` ip or tray, and near the lower end thereo when the latter is set up in vertil position, arel arms 17-17. Each of these arms is provided with an Oil'set or shoulder 18,' which permits the lower edge of the arm to rest upon the floor, when each arm is turned outwardly and downwardl to its horizontal supporting position, an at the same time clear the bottom end of the grip ortray, theV offset being suiiiciently great to accommodate trunk ends of varying thicknesses. InV other words, the offset the drawings as some little distance above the4 bottom of the grip or tray, so that if the arms are `applied to a grip or tray in which this bottom or end portion is of greater thickness, the arms will still be adapted thereto.` These arms 17 are connected at their Outer ends by a crossiece 19, and said arms have also projecting rom their outer sides hooks 20. Pivoted to the arms, just in advance of the shoulders 18 are links 21-21, provided with *elongatedl slots 22-22. Thesides of the grip or tray also have pins 23-23 extending inwardly therefrom and through the slots 22. `The inner ends of the slots 22'ha`ve projecting therefrom'short branch slo'ts 24, which, i'n conjunction with the slots 22, form Anfefect a bayonet slot, so that'when the arms 17 are turned outwardly and downwardly to the horizontall position., shown in Fig 3, with the cross-piece 19 restn upon the floor,^the pins 23 are automatica] y engaged with lthe branch. slots 24, and tx'msequently the supporting device is held releasably locked 1n ts'supporting position.

The tray 25, illustrated specifically in Fig. 4, is providedv interiorly with; precisely the same hanger arrangement 15 as the grip 13, and also with precisely the same supporting mechanism, consisting of the' arms 17 pro.- vided with hooks 2 0, "the cross-piece 19, and the slotted links 21, arranged'and connected as hereinbefore fully pointedout.' The only when it is placed on endvertically,ititno't- 110 Y' portion is shown in'v Patented-M35? adsl2.

difference between thetwo structures yis that` upset the grip or tray.'-

only supported by the supporting mechanism specifically described, but is also supported by the hinged lid or cover which is turned out'at au angle, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The improved grip and tray is adapted to be placed within a so-called steamer trunk, or within an automobile trunk, or for that matter is adapted for trunk purposes generally. `When used in connection with, or placed within a steamer trunk the said trunk eing of the proper height to t beneath the berth of the stateroom, access can be obtained to the grip or tray by dropping down the frontI lid or'cover of the lid, and the grip or tray can then be readily drawn out, without the necessity of pulling the heavy trunk from beneath the berth. When the grip or tray is thus pulled entirely clear of the interior-of the trunk, it can be set u p in any portion of the stateroom or other room, and bei firmly supported in'position to be utilized as .a wardrobe:

An automobile trunk is of such size to fit not only on the rear 'of the automobile, but also on the running-board thereof, and when my improved form of grip or tray is used in connection with, or withinl Such form of trunk, the said grip or tray, when a stopping place is reached can be readily removed from the trunk and carried to the'room of a hotel and setup for use as a wardrobe. Furthermore, in the grip form of the device the'dsaid device can be used entirely independently of thetrunk, as anordinary suit case; that `is to say it can be carried on a train or other conveyance, and when ones destinationis reached it can be transported to the room of a hotel, and readily and quickly setup on end 'for use as a Wardrobe.

VIn the use of the ip or tray as a wardrobe, it is removed fim the trunk by being merely pulled outwardly after lirstturning down the front lid or cover of the trunk. The grip or tray is then set on end in a vertical position at, any convenient point of a room. The cross-piece is next grasped, and the supporting mechanism pulled out- 'wardly and downwardly to the supporting position shown in Fig. 3, and when fully pulled out, the lateral projecting pins end gage the branch slots 24 and thereby releasably lock the said mechanism in its supporting position. Now, if it isdesired to hang clothes on the hanger device, the user places the. foot upon the cross-piece 19, and the grip or tray is thereby most firmly held and secured,even when the clothes are being arranged therein, and which operation, under ordinary conditions, would have 'a tendency to tilt or In order to. restore the parts to normal position after the use of the device as a wardrobe is temporarily discontinued, thecross-piece is grasped and the supporting mechanism turned back to they position shown in 4f., the inward movement of said mechanism being arrested by the engagement of the hook 20-20 with the edges of the grip or tray. When the supporting mechanism is thus turned back to normal non-supporting position, the cross piece 19 not only acts as a brace for the side of the grip or tray, but also serves as a clothes retainer, that is to say, it keeps the suspended clothes confined within the walls rof the grip' or tray. ln the grip form, the

door or lid 14 is also thrown out to the diagonal position shown in Fig. Q, and this .assists the supporting mechanism in securing a firm support for the grip. In the case of the tray form, as the door or lid 14. is not present, the said tray is, ot course, without the additional support afforded by the door.

What: T claim is:

1. The combination with a wardrobe section in the form of a casing, of movable supporting mechanism movably connected only at one end of the casing, and comprising side members movable together and located at opposite sides of thercasing and adapted for supporting said casing at opposite sides thereof, the said members, when moved outwardly, leaving a clear or unobstructed. err trance to the interior ot' the casing, and adaptrl, when so moved outwardly, to rest upon a tloor, or other medium, and thereby support the casing in its upright position, and, whenmoved inwardly, to be adjusted to a position within the casing.

2. A wardrobe section, comprising a eas ing, and armsfpivoted to the sides of the casing, near one end thereof, the said arms, when the'casing is set up on the .end where the arms are located, for use as a wardrobe, adapted, when turned outwardly and downwardly, to rest on a iioor, or other medium, and to support the casing` in its upright vertical position, and when the section is not in use as a wardrobe, to be turned upwardly to a position within the casing.

3. A wardrobe section, comprising a asing, arms pivoted to the sides of the casing, near one end thereof, said arms nea:` their pivotal connections, being offsetor shtml.- dered on their lower edges to tit over the end ot the casing, and said arms, when the `casing is set np on the end where the arms are located, adapted, when turned outwardly and downwardly, to rest on a floor, or other medium, and to support the casing in its upright vertical position, and when the section is not used as a wardrobe, to be turned upwardly to a positief; within the casing.

LA wardrobe section, comprising a casing, arms pivoted to the sides ot the casing, near one end thereof, sai arms, when the casing is set, up on the end when the arms are located, adapted, when turned c `twardly and downwardly, to rest on a floor, or other medium, and to support the casing. i when the casing is not used as a wardrobe,; the saidlarms adapted to be turned upwardly to a position within the casing, and a crosspece coimecting the outer ends of the arms and resting on a floor, or other medium, when the arms are turned outwardly and downwardly,

4thereof where the arms are located, adapted tosupportthe casin in, its upright position, and the slotted 1in s adapted to hold or .brace the arms in their supporting position, and said arms and links, when turned upwardly, adapted to be \swung into the interiorv ofthe casing.

6. A wardrobe section, comprising a casing, arms pivoted to the sides-of the casing, near one end thereof, pins or studs extend- *ing inwardly from opposite sides of the casing, slotted links pivoted to the pivoted arms, and having the pins or studs extending through the slots thereof, the said slots at their inner ends having short branch slots extending therefrom, and the said pivoted arms, when turned outwardly and downwardly, and when the casing is setup on the end thereof where the arms are located, pied to support the casing in its upright posit-ion, and the slotted links adapted to hold or brace the arms in their supporting g sition, thepins or studs atl this tlme en- .o ing the branch slots at the inner ends of the slots of the links, and when turned upwardly, adapted to be swung into t-he interior of the casing.

A wardrobe section, comprising a casing, arms pivoted to the sides of the casing, .n ir one end thereof, said arms, when the casinf-f is set up on the end thereof where the arms are located and for use as a wardrobe, adapted, when turned outwardly and downwardly, to r'est on a floor, or other meand having its ends fittingl within and against the opposite sides of the casing' when the arms are turned upwardly.

dium, and to support the casing in its upright vertical position, and when the section islnot in use as a wardrobe, adapted to be turned upwardly within the casing, and hooks secured to the arms, and adapted, when the arms are turned upwardly, togengage the edges of the sides of the casing.

8. A wardrobe section, compris'ng a casing, arms pivoted to the sides of t e casing, near one end thereof, pins or studs extending inwardly from opposite sides` of the casing, slotted links pivoted to the| pivoted arms. and having the pins or studs extendingv through the slots thereof, the (said pivoted arms, when turned outwardly and downwardly, and when the casing is set up on the end thereof where the arms are located, adaptedto support the casing in its upright position, and the slotted links adapted to hold or brace th'earms in their supporting position, and"`said arms and links, when turned outwardly, adapted to be swung into the interior of the casing, and a cross-piece connecting the outer vends of the arms, and adapted, when said arms are turned outwardly, to rest on the floor, or other medium, and when the arms are turned upwardly adapted to have its ends tit within and to bear against the opposite sides of the casing.

9. The combination of a wardrobe section in the form of a casing, a hinged cover for said casing, and movable supporting mechanism movably connected only at one end of the casing, and comprising side members movable together and located at opposite sides of the casing and adapted for supporting said casing at opposite sides thereof, the said members, when moved outwardly, leav-- ing a clear or unobstructed entrance to the interior of the casing, and adapted, when so moved outwardly, to rest upon a floor, or other medium, an'd thereby, in conjunction with the outswung hinged cover, support the casing in its upright position, and, when moved inwardly, to be adjusted to a position within thecasing.

In testimony whereof, I` afx my signature, in presenceof two wit-nesses.

GEORGE H. WHEARY.

Witnesses:

C. H. KEENEY, KATHERINE HoL'r.A 

